Maximilian: Meaning, Popularity, Origin of Baby Name Maximilian

Maximilian

Origin of the name Maximilian:

Arose as a blending of the Latin Maximus (greatest) and Aemiliānus by the Emperor Frederich III, who bestowed it upon his first-born son, Maximilian I (1459 - 1519), in honor of two famous Roman generals. Maximus is directly derived from maximus (greatest), but the etymology of Aemiliānus is uncertain.

Contribute your knowledge to the name Maximilian

Maximilian is a strong powerful name, with the nickname "Max" being a more laid back option.

Maximilian specifically connotes a sense of royalty and greatness (hence the name’s meaning). There is a very sophisticated sound to the name Maximilian that is isolated to parents who either expect greatness from their son, or else simply prefer the erudite and regal sound of the name.

What a nice name! I love Max as a nickname. Maximilian is much better than the more newly coined "Maximillian", with two l's, or the boring sounding "Maxwell".

People with the name Maximilian have a deep inner desire to inspire others in a higher cause, and to share their own strongly held views on spiritual matters with harmony and balance in their lives, and respond positively to beautiful things. they tend to initiate events, to be leaders rather than followers, with powerful personalities. They tend to be focused on specific goals, experience a wealth of creative new ideas, and have the ability to implement these ideas with efficiency and determination. They tend to be courageous and sometimes aggressive. As unique, creative individuals, they tend to resent authority, and are sometimes stubborn, proud, and impatient.

I had a friend named Max who everyone called Maximilian in school. It was fun to use a longer name for the shorter name he went by. It is one of those names that sounds sophisticated and sensible.

The name Maximilian comes from the Latin “Maximilianus” which is a form of “Maximus” meaning ‘greatest.’ The name was borne from Saint Maximilian of Tebessa, a 3rd-century saint and martyr.

Maximilian became a traditional name among the royal Habsburg family members in Austria-Hungary as well as the royal house of Bavaria.

In the 15th century the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III gave this name to his son and eventual heir Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor (1459–1519). In this case it was a blend of the names of the Roman generals Fabius Maximus and Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus, who Frederick admired. Fabius Maximus lived in the 3rd century B.C. and made a name for himself during the Second Punic War (Roman Republic vs. Carthage). He prevented Hannibal’s army from receiving needed resources while preserving the strength of his own forces. Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus was a leading general of the Roman army during the Third Punic War and commanded the final siege of Carthage (present day Tunisia) in the 2nd century B.C. This resulted in the complete destruction of Rome’s long time enemy. Together, the names of these two remarkable Roman generals formed the word for ‘greatness’.

The name Maximilian was subsequently borne by a second Holy Roman Emperor, two kings of Bavaria, a short-lived Habsburg emperor of Mexico, and many more.

Tsar Maximilian, hero of the eponymous Russian folk-play
Maximilian Morrel, character in the Book/Movie The Count of Monte Cristo
Maximillian (robot), robot from the 1979 Disney motion picture, The Black Hole
Maximillian Arturo, fictional character on science fiction TV show Sliders
Maximillian Faversham, character in the radio comedy The Penny Dreadfuls Present...
Maximillian Skinner, main (fictional) character in A Good Year
Maximillian, main character in the PlayStation 2 video game Dark Cloud 2
Maximilian (Maxie) Zeus, Batman villain
Maximilian, one of the three playable geniuses in the real time strategy game, Evil Genius
Maximilian Gaius Von Reginrave, imperial general invading the country Gallia in Valkyria Chronicles
Maximillian (Max) Goof, son of the popular Disney character Goofy
Maximilian Veers, Imperial General in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back